How to Protect Your Bank Account from Hackers and Fraud

How Scammers Get Your Personal Information

Scammers rarely guess. They collect. They build a profile and use it to sound legitimate. That profile can include your address, family names, employer, property records, and old passwords.

The FBI reports internet crime losses that exceed $16 billion in the 2024 report year. That number comes from complaints sent to IC3, so it reflects what people report, not every case.

Public Records Hackers Use Against You

Public records exist for legal and business reasons. Scammers still use them to target you. They look for details that help them reset accounts, answer security questions, or sound like they already know you.

Common public record details scammers may use:

• Home address and past addresses
• Property ownership and purchase dates
• Business filings and registered agent information
• Voter registration details, where available
• Court records and public notices

You can lower your risk without disappearing.

• Share less personal details on social profiles, especially birthdays, pets’ names, and family connections
• Remove old listings from data broker sites when you can
• Use a password manager so you do not reuse passwords tied to older accounts

Read our blog on how scammers use public records.

Data Breaches and the Dark Web

Data breaches create long term risk. A breach from years ago can still affect you today because your email address, phone number, and passwords do not change unless you change them.

In 2024, the FTC received 6.5 million consumer reports, and more than 1.1 million identity theft reports came through IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC data book lists 1,135,291 total identity theft reports in 2024.

What scammers do with breach data:

• Try your old passwords on bank, email, and shopping sites
• Use your phone number for SIM swap attempts
• Use your address and SSN fragments for account takeovers
• Send targeted phishing that includes real details

What you can do this week to cut risk:

• Change your email password first, then your bank, then everything else
• Turn on two-factor authentication where you can
• Freeze your credit with the major bureaus if you do not plan to apply for credit soon

Social Engineering Tactics Explained

Social engineering is the human part of fraud. The scammer uses pressure, friendliness, fear, or authority to get what they want.

Common tactics:
Urgency: “You have five minutes to stop this.”

• Fear: “A warrant is active.”
• Helpfulness: “I will walk you through it.”
• Authority: “This is the fraud team.”
• Secrecy: “Do not tell anyone, it will make it worse.”

Your best defense is a rule you follow every time.

• Slow down
• Verify using a phone number you trust
• Do not share codes, passwords, or PINs

How to Protect Yourself from AI Voice Cloning Scams

Voice cloning makes scams feel personal. The caller sounds like your family member or your boss, so you react before you verify. That is the goal.

The FTC warns scammers use voice cloning to make requests for money or information more believable.

How Voice Cloning Technology Works

Voice cloning tools can copy a voice from a short audio clip. Scammers get those clips from social videos, voicemail greetings, and short calls where they keep you talking.

Common moves:

• Call you and record your responses
• Combine your voice with a fake story
• Use caller ID spoofing so the number looks familiar
• Demand money fast, often by wire or crypto

You do not need to learn the tech. You need a verification habit that does not depend on how a voice sounds.

The "Grandparent Scam" and Family Emergency Fraud

The grandparent scam has been around for years. AI makes it harder to spot. The scam claims an emergency, then asks for money and secrecy.

Common versions:

• “I got in trouble. I need bail money.”
• “I was in an accident. Do not tell mom or dad.”
• “My phone broke. Use this number.”

If you get a call like that, use a simple script.

• “I am going to hang up and call you back.”
• Call the person using the number you already have save
•  If they do not answer, call another family member

That approach protects you, and it keeps you calm.

Creating a Family Safe Word for Verification

A family safe word helps when someone calls or texts asking for money. It also helps when a scammer tries to rush you.

How to set it up:

• Pick a word or short phrase nobody would guess
• Do not use a pet name, school mascot, or favorite team
• Agree that money requests require the safe word
• Practice once so it feels normal

You can add a second step.
- Ask a question only that person would know, like the name of a shared friend from years ago

Read more about AI scams and how to stay protected.

How to Spot Fake Bank Phone Calls

Fake bank calls work because they sound urgent and official. Scammers spoof numbers, so the call can look like it came from your bank. Do not trust caller ID alone.

If you want clear banking security tips, focus on one habit. A real bank will support verification. A scammer will push back.

Caller ID Spoofing Explained

Caller ID spoofing lets a scammer choose what shows up on your screen. The number can match a real business or a local exchange.

Treat caller ID as a label, not proof.

• If you did not place the call, treat it as unverified
• Do not share details just because the number looks right
• Call back using a number you find yourself

Questions Scammers Ask vs. Real Bank Representatives

Scammers ask for what they need to take over your account. Real bank representatives focus on secure steps and safe identity checks.

Questions scammers often ask:

• “What is your online banking password?”
• “Read me the code you just received.”
• “What is your full PIN?”
• “Can you confirm your card number and CVV?”
• “Can you move money to a safe account I will create?”

What real bank representatives typically do instead:

• Ask you to confirm limited identifying information
• Ask you to review recent transactions
• Ask you to call back using a verified number
• Tell you how to lock your card or reset access

If anyone asks for a verification code, treat it as a scam attempt. Those codes exist to stop account takeovers.

How to Verify a Call is From Your Bank

Use a simple routine that works every time.

• Hang up
• Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement
• If you use the bank’s app, open it from your home screen and check for alerts

If you bank with Five Points Bank, save this page so you can reach the team fast.

For a recent example of how these calls work, read our blog on New Phone Scam Targeting Bank Customers.

Simple Habits to Protect Your Finances Daily

Most fraud succeeds because people feel rushed. Your daily habits can remove that pressure. You do not need perfect security. You need repeatable routines.

These bank account security tips help you prevent online fraud and spot problems early.

The "Stop and Think" Method Before Acting

Use a quick pause whenever money, access, or urgency shows up.

Stop and think checklist:

• Did I start this contact, or did they?
• Are they pushing speed, secrecy, or fear?
• Are they asking for access, codes, or payment?
• Can I verify this using a method I control?

If the message passes your pause test, proceed. If it fails, verify first. If they refuse verification, end it.

For a short guide you can share with family, read our Think Before You Click blog post.

How to Create Strong, Unique Passwords

Passwords still matter because many account takeovers start with reused logins. Strong helps. Unique helps more.

Practical password rules:

• Use a password manager
• Use a unique password for email and banking
• Aim for 14 characters or more
• Avoid real words and personal details
• Change passwords right away after a breach notice

A simple goal works well. Your bank password should not match your shopping password. Your email password should not match anything else.

Why You Should Never Share Verification Codes

A verification code is the last gate before an account takeover. Scammers ask for it because it works.

Never share verification codes, even if:

• The caller knows your name and address
• The text looks like it came from your bank
• The email includes real branding
• The caller sounds calm and professional

If you shared a code, act fast.

• Change your password
• Call your bank using a trusted number
• Ask the bank to review recent access and activity

How to Keep Your Online Banking Secure

Online banking safety starts with your device, your login, and your connection. Attackers look for the weak spot. You can remove easy openings with a few steps.

Setting Up Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication reduces the risk of account takeover. It adds a second step beyond the password, like an app prompt or a one time code.

What to do:

• Turn on two-factor authentication for your email first
• Turn it on for online banking next
• Use an authenticator app if the option exists
• Avoid text based codes when a stronger option exists

If you want to review your banking settings, use Online and Mobile Banking.

Safe Wi-Fi Practices for Banking

Public Wi-Fi creates risk because you do not control the network. You can still bank safely if you follow a few rules.

Safe Wi-Fi practices:

• Use cellular data for banking when possible
• Avoid logging in on public Wi-Fi in airports, hotels, or cafes
• Keep your phone and apps updated
• Do not store passwords in a notes app

If you must use public Wi-Fi, avoid high risk moves like adding a new payee or sending a large transfer.

How to Spot Fake Banking Websites

Fake sites copy real bank pages. They want your login. They often arrive through links in email or text.

Signs of a fake banking website:

• The web address looks slightly off
• The login page loads after you click a link, not after you type the address
• The site asks for extra details, like your full PIN
• The page looks right, but the domain name is wrong

A reliable habit is simple.

• Type the bank address yourself
• Or use your official mobile app

Read our blog on spotting email threats that lead to fake sites.

How to Protect Your Debit Card and PIN

Debit card safety matters because debit connects directly to your checking account. Fraud can still be resolved, but the timing can feel stressful. You can cut risk with habits at the register and at the ATM.

ATM Safety Best Practices

ATM fraud often relies on distraction. Stay focused for 30 seconds, and you remove the opening.

ATM safety best practices:

• Use indoor ATMs when you can
• Look for loose card readers or strange overlays
• Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN
• Decline help from strangers
• Take your receipt or skip it, but do not leave it behind

For a local reminder about distraction tactics, read our blog post on New ATM Scam Targets Distracted Users.

When to Use Credit vs. Debit for Purchases

Use debit when you want to pay from your account and you trust the merchant. Use credit for higher risk purchases and travel.

Good times to use credit:

• Online orders from a new retailer
• Hotel and car rental holds
• Big ticket items
• Travel bookings

Good times to use debit:

• Everyday, in person purchases at familiar places
• Cash withdrawals, when you use a trusted ATM

That split can reduce stress if fraud hits, and it supports your goal to prevent online fraud.

Setting Up Transaction Alerts

Transaction alerts help you catch fraud early. They also help you spot small test charges that come before bigger fraud.

Alert ideas that work:

• Any purchase over a dollar amount you choose, like $50
• Any online purchase
• Any card not present transaction
• Any ATM withdrawal
• Any transfer or external payment

Use your bank’s alert tools and keep your contact information current.

How to Set Up Fraud Alerts and Account Notifications

Fraud alert setup is one of the simplest ways to improve security without changing your routine. Alerts turn silent fraud into a visible event.

Types of Alerts You Should Enable

Start with alerts that match how scams hit.

Core alerts to enable:

• Login alerts for new devices or new locations
• Low balance alerts
• Large withdrawal alerts
• Transfer and wire alerts
• Debit card purchase alerts
• Address or contact change alerts

If you run a small business, add:

• ACH or payroll change alerts
• New payee alerts
• Dual approval for large payments, if available

How to Set Up Alerts in Online Banking

Set alerts inside your bank’s official app or official website. Do not use links from emails or texts.

A clean setup approach:

• Log in through Online and Mobile Banking
• Turn on your core alerts first
• Add your phone number and email
• Test one alert so you know it works

Monitoring Your Accounts for Suspicious Activity

Alerts help, but you should still review accounts on a schedule. A simple pattern works best.

Try this routine:

• Check transactions twice a week
• Review monthly statements, even if you rarely use paper
• Watch for small charges you do not recognize
• Look for withdrawals you did not make
• Pay attention to new payees or transfers

If you find something odd, treat it as time sensitive. Many banks can act faster when you report right away.

When to Contact Your Bank About Suspicious Activity

Some issues require a quick call. If you wait, you give a scammer more time.

If you ever feel unsure, contact Five Points Bank using a trusted channel:

Warning Signs Something Is Wrong

Watch for signs that suggest account takeover or fraud is in progress.

Warning signs:

• You cannot log in, and you know your password is right
• You get a login alert you did not trigger
• You see a transfer you do not recognize
• Your contact details changed without your approval
• You get repeated verification texts you did not request
• A merchant claims you opened a new account with them

If any of those happen, do not keep troubleshooting alone. Call the bank using a trusted number.

Information to Have Ready When You Call

A fast report helps the bank act faster. Gather what you can (and mention any related Home Mortgage, Agriculture Loans, or Wealth Management accounts so we can route your request correctly).
Have this ready:

Have this ready:

• The best phone number for a callback
• The date and time the issue started
• The transaction amount and merchant name, if relevant
• Screenshots of texts or emails, if you have them
• The phone number that called you, even if it looks familiar
• What you clicked or shared, if anything

If you think you shared a code or password, say that clearly. That detail changes the next steps.

How Five Points Bank Responds to Fraud Reports

When you report possible fraud, the bank can help you take control again. The exact steps depend on the situation, but the goal stays the same. Stop the fraud, secure access, and limit losses.

Steps your bank may guide you through:

• Locking or replacing a card
• Resetting online access
• Reviewing recent transactions with you
• Adding extra monitoring to the account
• Documenting details for a dispute or claim

If you want a clear checklist for what to do after a scam, read our blog on What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed.

If you want to confirm you are using official bank resources, start with About Five Points Bank.